Galo Blanco (born October 8, 1976) is a retired professional tennis player from Oviedo, Spain. Blanco is a member of the men's professional tour since 1995.
Most of Blanco's early professional tour appearances were earned by qualifying for tournaments. He would do so by winning the qualifier's rounds that are usually played before the tournaments themselves, to fill one last tournament spot. It was that way that he was able to participate at the Fairmonts tournament in Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S. in 1996, for example.
Blanco eventually began to be invited to tournaments, and his name has gained reasonable importance in the men's professional circuit. He came closest to winning a Grand Slam title in 1997, reaching the quarterfinals of the French Open.
Blanco had two high profile wins in majors, beating former 2-time US Open Champion, Patrick Rafter, in the first round of the 2000 US Open, and in beating Pete Sampras in the second round of the 2001 French Open.
Blanco lost in the second round of the 2004 Australian Open. He announced his retirement after the 2006 Torneo Godó.
Blanco is now a prominent tennis coach, coaching rising Canadian star Milos Raonic.
Read more about Galo Blanco: ATP World Tour: 2 (1–1)